The Boss

With Juan Mata putting pen to paper on a long term contract with champions Manchester United earlier this week, Chelsea manager José Mourinho boldly tested the reverence with which he is held at Stamford Bridge. Allowing the two time player of the year to join forces with the sworn enemies at Old Trafford would have been unthinkable for Rafael Benítez, Roberto Di Matteo and Carlo Ancelotti, amongst other predecessors. Indeed such a scenario would lumber question marks upon the credibility of even the most secure managers. José however, with a steely arrogance offered perhaps his greatest example yet during his second spell at the club as to why, when he calls himself "The Special One", others follow.

Upon arriving at Chelsea in 2004, Mourinho quipped and quoted his way on to the back pages of newspapers, coupling charisma and character with a ruthless, successful team. His return has been stumbling rather than galloping. Whilst his side have been competitive, they have not been swashbuckling nor have they been cold-hearted in crushing opposition. Press conferences, whilst still somewhat entertaining present a Mourinho now caricatured by his own self-worth and overly salubrious relationship with the English media. Not only have his previously expert mind games become predictable, but they are also becoming a thing of farce. Accusations aimed at Luis Suárez for diving when explicitly clattered off the ball by Samuel Eto'o, already fortunate to remain on the pitch, were followed by swan dives from Oscar, Ramires and Hazard in the coming weeks.

Manchester United have undoubtedly purchased a player of genuine quality who will bring guile, skill and creativity to a side starved of any form of invention, with none of Ashley Young, Adnan Januzaj, Antonia Valencia or Shinji Kagawa providing any veritable, consistent performances thus far. His signing, however does not cover the inadequacies in United's team, still crying out for a truly world class central midfielder, Yohan Cabaye has been touted, and replacements in an aging and inconsistent back four. What the purchase however will do, even if Mata himself does not strictly perform to the level he is so clearly capable of, is provide inspiration and motivation for the players around him, in a similar manner to that of Mesut Özil at Arsenal. The German has only, on occasion, displayed his abilities and truly shone at the Emirates, but his presence alone, coupled with the statement of the transfer, has had a proactive effect on players such as Aaron Ramsey and Jack Wilshere, as well as banishing the seemingly perpetual air of negativity surrounding the football club in recent years.

Mata himself appears to benefit greatly from this transfer. He has proven himself at Chelsea, and indeed Valencia, winning silverware and announcing himself to the world stage as a class act both on and off the pitch. His stock, therefore, is not in question. However with the World Cup looming, and his Spanish team spoilt for choice, particularly in his playmaker position (indeed only compatriot David Silva can boast a better assists record over the past few seasons than Mata), the importance of regular and rewarding playing time is of vital importance. Alongside Javier Hernández, Robin Van Persie and, should his heart be in it, Wayne Rooney, Mata will not only be guaranteed playing time, but also a clinical strike force to make the most of the ammunition he will no doubt supply.

So how, in a transfer where the player, his now incumbent squad and the corporate staff of said squad all appear to benefit greatly, does the so called "Special One" come out strongest? Well there is the financial side. With Financial Fair Play looming, Chelsea are a club who have struggled with losses despite Champions League and Europa League successes. The sale of such a prized asset not only helps boost the figures, but also indicates to the powers that be at least an effort to straighten the books. The profits made on Mata have also allowed for the impending purchase of young starlet Mohammed Salah, who will not only look to improve the squad, but at 21 years of age represents potential financially beneficial future business. Cynics have also argued that Mata will help Manchester United take points from title rivals Arsenal, Liverpool and Manchester City, clearing the way for Mourinho's blues to reign come May. In addition, Mata has been a fringe player this season. Irrespective of supposed ability, such an offer for a player who has featured fleetingly must be taken seriously. To take extreme examples, and no disrespect to either player whatsoever, Mata's contribution in terms of appearances this season has been in line with those of Tomáš Rosický and Victor Moses. £37.1 million for a squad player, albeit an immensely talented one, makes sense.

However where Mourinho truly victors in this escapade is that he has proven himself to be the pied piper of the Bridge. His ability to sell a fans' favourite and a key player of previous regimes without the backlash of incandescent fans highlights the power he commands and the esteem with which he is held at Chelsea. In his previous reign, Mourinho's sense of invincibility ultimately cost him as relations with Roman Abramovich turned sour. This time around, the Portuguese manager has stamped his authority early, knowing that in the years following his departure, the Russian owner never truly replaced him, despite varying successes. In the ultimate exercise of power and ego massaging, Mourinho has emphatically paraded himself as bigger than any player at the club. It is worth remembering too, that this is not atypical of Mourinho's career. Most recently Real Madrid legend Iker Casillas received a similar fate in terms of being frozen out. He has also eliminated the weekly media questioning of Mata's role within the club and if this was not enough, Mourinho has placed a grenade within the already enthralling title and Champions League race. Where Arsène Wenger and Manuel Pellegrini appeared paranoid that such point stealing tactics would be at play, José's supposedly tiring character gains more and more energy and credibility. The arrogant, nearly piteous manner with which he diminished Manchester United's title ambitions following the 3-1 victory at Stamford Bridge, coupled with such a high profile transfer only serves to emphasise the idea that Mourinho sees himself and Chelsea as a far, far greater force than Moyes' team.

Chelsea still have a lot of work to do before they are in a position to be Champions of England, and certainly the media's love affair with Mourinho will continue to flourish despite the generic, lethargic flashes of arrogance and tired attempts at mind games. It is, however, a mark of the man as both a manager and a public image, that such a situation, not only unimaginable this time last year, but near fatal for any other manager, has been manipulated to appear that the biggest victor of all is the man who is losing from his squad a Champions League, Europa League and two time player of the year winner, José Mourinho.